Just when you thought the lineup for UNUM Festival 2026 couldn’t get any richer, they go and pull the lid off Phase 2.
If you’ve been around the block as long as I have, you know that feeling when a festival lineup stops being just a poster and starts looking like a proper record collection. That’s exactly what’s happening in Shëngjin, Albania, this June.
Following their massive win at the DJ Awards for Best Global Festival 2025, the UNUM team is doubling down. The Phase 2 announcement dropped today. It adds a serious layer of texture to what was already a heavyweight bill.
Let’s talk about the names that made me raise an eyebrow.
First, Gerd Janson. If you don’t feel a little rush seeing his name on there, are you even listening? Gerd is the quintessential DJ’s DJ. For years, he held court at Frankfurt’s Robert Johnson, and more recently, he’s become a fixture at Berlin’s Panorama Bar. But don’t let the “resident” tag fool you; the man is a global treasure. His sets are a masterclass in narrative. He can drop a jacking house track, segue into an Italo-Disco classic, and then flip it into something you’ve never heard but feel like you’ve known your whole life.
Then we have Cinthie. This is huge. A pillar of the modern house scene, Cinthie brings that undeniable Berlin soul, but with a swing that belongs to Chicago. She’s a vinyl purist at heart, and her sets are packed with groove. She’s playing deep, chord-driven house or something a bit more uptempo.
Franco Cinelli is another name that jumps out. The Argentine-Italian producer has been a quiet giant in the deep house scene for decades. His sound is hypnotic, warm, and deeply textured. If you catch him on the Beach Stage as the sun starts to dip, don’t move. That’s the sweet spot.
And we can’t overlook Prospa. The UK duo brings that fresh burst of energy. They sit right on that intersection of rave, breakbeat, and hardcore energy that’s been shaking rooms lately. They are the perfect “system reset” button after hours of deep minimalism.
Doudou MD, Cap, Mateo Dufour, and Arapu round out the new additions with serious credibility. These are the names that keep the floors locked from peak-time until the early morning. They represent that continuous, flowing vibe that UNUM does so well—no big gaps, no fluff, just pure rhythm.
These Phase 2 names join a lineup that was already a who’s who of modern electronic music. We’re talking the minimal master Ricardo Villalobos, the techno precision of Ben Klock, and the Romanian wave staples like Raresh, Praslea, and Priku. Add in Craig Richards, Dyed Soundorom, and East End Dubs, and you have a week where you literally have to make tough choices.
But here’s the thing about UNUM—it’s never just about the lineup.
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The setting remains the silent headliner. The festival stretches across three distinct stages: the relentless Pine Stage hidden in the forest, the sun-drenched Beach Stage, and the Main Stage for those big-room moments. It’s a place where you can go from dancing in the dust to floating in the Adriatic in a matter of minutes.
For 2026, they are introducing a new panoramic afterparty. Picture this: a modern hilltop structure overlooking the sea, limited to just 500 people, watching the sunrise. That isn’t just a party; that’s a memory that sticks with you.
Tickets are flying faster than ever, which tells you something. The Early Bird and Loyalty allocations are already gone. But you can still grab passes starting at €95, with full five-day packages (including travel and a place to crash) for under €300. For a week of this quality? That’s a steal.
UNUM has always felt different. It’s not a corporate juggernaut; it’s a gathering. It’s a place without barriers, built for people who care about sound, setting, and sincerity.
Phase 3 is still to come. Are you ready?